Ch 213
“Golden Star Karzen.
His ostentatious attire and self-centered personality were even more famous than his achievements and accomplishments as Tower Master.
When he took on his first disciple.
Those who knew Golden Star were speechless with astonishment.
-You took on a disciple?
And.
Upon actually seeing the disciple, they were once again speechless with astonishment.
-Did you choose your disciple based on personality?
Karzen flatly denied this.
The disciple was someone he had taken on with the feeling of jewelry that would enhance his own reputation.
If there were criteria for choosing that disciple, naturally the first would be brilliant talent, and the second would also be brilliant talent, wouldn’t it?
The reason Karzen took Rocard as his disciple!
It was entirely because Rocard was born with an innate talent related to his Unique Magic.
However.
Is it not said that magic is a mirror that reflects the Inner World of a wizard?
A disciple he had regarded as mere jewelry to enhance his own reputation.
On the day he first took a deep interest in him and learned about his personality.
Karzen could not help but receive a great shock.
The personality of that young mage greatly resembled his own.
Especially his extremely ostentatious personality.
-Perhaps. Does the talent for my Unique Magic originate from such a personality?
To the point where such a thought occurred.
So what is the conclusion?
-Lord Karzen… So regarding Lord Rocard’s problem…
-Leave it be.
-…Yes?
-It’s not something that can be fixed even if you try to fix it. I know that well.
Rocard’s personality resembles mine.
Therefore, I will give up guidance and correction completely.
That was the conclusion the Archmage reached regarding his disciple’s character.
…It was the reason why he felt confused by the young mage’s statement.
He spoke about his impressions of meeting his disciple.
That he seemed to be a humble and unassuming person.
‘Humble? Unassuming?’
The Rocard Karzen knew was someone who would suffer an overload if he refused a moment of vanity.
Even that vanity was far from ordinary.
That unique deception.
That aberrant and twisted, masochistic vanity was enough to make even Karzen, who possessed the epithet of Golden, recoil.
Karzen could guarantee it.
The two virtues that young man just mentioned were at a complete opposite point from his disciple.
Thus.
Having confidence in his disciple’s masochistic personality and thoroughly denying the virtue of humility, he briefly felt a slight sense of doubt.
Golden Star suddenly felt doubt.
‘Who in the world did this fellow meet?’
It’s only in front of the Tower Master and his disciple that he becomes an ordinary person.
In fact, the wizards of the Yellow Tower possessed ostentatious personalities that were not lacking anywhere.
In this matter, they had thoroughly crushed the spirit of the Grey Tower, which could be considered a competitor—
They were absolutely not the kind of people who would show a humble attitude.
By this point, Karzen could not help but think.
‘Perhaps, is he being sarcastic?’
In context, there was no other interpretation.
However, the reason Karzen could not grasp a clue was because the man speaking seemed utterly truthful.
Unless he was a genius of deception like Rocard—
Such a reaction would only come from someone who had truly met a humble person.
“Hmm…”
Thus.
Lumiere and Demier suddenly witnessed an astonishing sight.
That Golden Star, who maintained his arrogance even in front of other Tower Masters—
Was at a loss in front of the young mage.
Of course. That didn’t last long.
“Well, is that it.”
True to his personality, Karzen quickly grew tired of the act of worrying in front of others.
“Your statement. It’s quite interesting. I’d like to ask about the details of the circumstances.”
“Ah. It’s nothing much. That is to say—”
“No. That’s enough.”
“Yes?”
“I can’t give you any more of my attention. That is. It’s too great an honor for you, a wizard of the Grey Tower.”
“Oh…”
What kind of mysterious child is this?
Lisir was overwhelmed by the Archmage in a different sense.
“If you want to gain my attention, show me the devotion to match. For example— urging your stubborn Tower Master to make the right judgment.”
“Right judgment…”
Lisir looked at the Grey Girl and the Miss.
Then he said.
“I believe that whatever judgment you two make will be the right and proper judgment.”
“Oh my.”
The Pigeon looked intently at Lisir.
“You look plain, but you can speak boldly? It’s not the reaction I expected, but I quite liked it. Does the Wandering Star keep a young mage like you by her side because of your personality? Or—”
The Pigeon tried to put strength into his gaze as he looked at Lisir.
Because of that appearance, he tried to gauge the young mage in front of him, making the most of his greatly limited senses.
“…Well, is that it.”
But just like before, he quickly lost interest again.
Golden Star.
He preferred the flashy.
Forcibly finding value that was not clearly visible was not to his liking.
“If Lumiere’s standards are not wrong. It will naturally come into my view someday.”
Then!
The Pigeon said that and spread its wings.
“It was a pleasure talking, Wandering Star!!! I hope we can meet in a proper place next time! Hahaha!”
“…”
The Grey Girl averted her gaze from the window, saying she had seen something she shouldn’t have.
Lisir showed a little displeasure at the Tower Master’s appearance.
“But. Even if you’re the Yellow Tower Master, is it alright to act so arrogantly in our Tower, and even in front of Lumiere?”
Lumiere’s expression, which had been tinged with the emotion of ‘boredom’, brightened in an instant.
“Are you getting angry on my behalf? That’s commendable. Well. Separately, don’t expend too much emotion. In a situation where the interests of this group are at stake, it’s right to handle the opponent like a rat, without crossing the line.”
“Do you act like that in other places, Lumiere?”
“I can’t do it to that extent. That fellow is born with it.”
The talent for oppression.
Lisir trembled in fear.
“In that respect, Lisir.”
“Yes.”
“You did very well. You really gave him a taste of his own medicine, didn’t you?”
“Yes?”
“To call that fellow’s disciple ‘a humble and unassuming person’. Especially that expression, as if he truly felt that way, was the highlight. Did you see? How he didn’t know what to do.”
Lumiere was recalling the Pigeon’s bewildered expression at Lisir’s statement.
“In that place just now, there aren’t many people besides you who could give that terrible fellow a taste of his own medicine. To exaggerate a little, I felt respect at that moment.”
Then Demier said.
“Lisir! Thank you! For scolding that Pigeon who was rude to our Master! I don’t know how relieved I am!”
Then Didoa.
“As expected of my friend Lisir. You upheld the prestige of our Tower. I’m proud.”
“…”
Lisir did not understand their reactions.
‘Gave him a taste of his own medicine? Scold him? Uphold the prestige? What are they all talking about?’
Lisir tried to recall his memories to understand the situation.
However.
No matter how much he thought about it, all he had done to the Pigeon was sincerely praise his disciple as ‘a humble and unassuming person’.
“What is it, Lisir? Why is your expression like that? Don’t tell me. You’re still worried about what happened earlier? There’s no need for that. He was the one who started it first, wasn’t he?”
“That’s right, Master!”
“That’s a very true statement, Tower Master.”
“…”
In the end.
Lisir could not follow their flow until the very end.
✦✦✦
“Anyway, Lumiere. What is all this about? The Yellow Tower Master, and his disciple…”
Through a series of events, Lisir realized that the incident involving the Grey Tower and the Yellow Tower was more complicated than he had thought.
He expressed the doubts he was feeling without reservation.
“Right. I should explain. But before that— Master Didoa? How did that go?”
“The party involved postponed discussions with the Yellow Tower.”
“For what reason?”
“It was because they hoped to have our Grey Tower participate in the discussion.”
“Then, the discussion will be held with the Grey Tower, the Yellow Tower, and the party involved. Is that right?”
“That’s right.”
“That’s good news. But it’s sudden. I don’t understand. What kind of wind blew?”
“It’s said that there was a strong recommendation from Gus, the owner of the Golden Barley Trading Company, and Pien, the Deputy Council Member.”
“Oh!”
Lisir felt both confusion and welcome at the sudden mention of the name.
He suddenly recalled a conversation he had had with Rona during his previous visit.
‘When Ga-dum was a Council Member, he left a huge mess, and they’re still cleaning it up. Pien is filling that vacancy in my stead as a Deputy Council Member… That fellow is working hard.’
The fortunate thing was.
That Pien was enjoying the process itself.
‘She said she’s feeling satisfaction in being supported by people without the power of domination…’
A smile naturally spread across Lisir’s face as he thought of her.
He thought.
He should visit her soon, taking a gift she likes as a sign of encouragement.
‘…What did Pien like again?’
Thus.
As Lisir was feeling excited about his friend,
“…A strong recommendation from the Golden Barley Trading Company owner and the Deputy Council Member?”
The Tower Master felt confused by the names mentioned in a different sense.
For the city’s powerholders, the Tower was an object of restraint, not cooperation.
Lumiere felt more unease than welcome at the helping hand they extended.
For a superhuman who has reached the realm of magic, the most difficult thing is undoubtedly these internal and external political problems of the Tower.
“What’s their scheme?”
Lumiere, in anguish.
The Tower Master’s Deputy said to her.
“Master! There won’t be any scheme like that that you’re worried about!”
“What do you mean, Demier? Is there anything you’ve noticed?”
“The two people you mentioned are Lisir’s close friends! Perhaps, they happened to meet them in the process of seeking advice from the dungeon discoverers, and in that process, the Trading Company owner and the Deputy Council Member intervened to help Lisir! They know that Lisir cherishes the Grey Tower!”
“…”
Lumiere was confused.
City powerholders fully supporting a Tower not for the Tower Master or Master, but for an Honorary Mage?
Even she, who had wandered across the continent, visiting countless cities and Towers, had never heard of such a situation.
Lumiere chanted a magic spell to somehow accept the unusual situation.
‘Lisir… Lisir…’
Surprisingly, it was of great help.
“Right. Thanks to Lisir. Then I can rest… assured. The city’s powerholders helping the Tower is a very pure… intention, so there’s no reason to worry… at all.
The Grey Girl’s expression twitched slightly.
Lisir was somewhat worried about her condition.
✦✦✦
Afterwards.
Lumiere explained the whole story of the incident surrounding the Grey Tower, the Yellow Tower, and Bondales.
“So— the White Iron Adventurer’s Guild discovered a map containing the location of a dungeon. And that dungeon is located in the area around Bondales.”
White Iron Adventurer’s Guild.
Lisir reacted to that name first.
One of the three major Adventurer’s Guilds.
Operating in the Central Continent, they were so famous that even Lisir, who wasn’t interested in the adventurer industry, knew of them.
“To be precise. They entrusted the interpretation of the map to the Yellow Tower, and in the process, it was revealed that the dungeon was located in Bondales, leading to the current situation.”
“Right. When a new structure is discovered and exploration is needed, it’s common practice to give the Tower closest to the structure priority in participating in the investigation.”
“Convention means… we only have justification. We don’t have the coercive power to demand a concession from the Yellow Tower.”
“Right. That’s even more so for Towers like ours with weak power.”
Lisir nodded, having organized the situation in his head.
‘An undiscovered dungeon…’
The Yellow Tower Master and his disciple.
Lisir felt like he knew the reason for that incredible lineup.
There were often cases where a specific group or individual would gain the power to leave their name in history by exploring an undiscovered dungeon.
“Then now… are our Tower and the Yellow Tower competing for the right to participate in the investigation team? Am I understanding correctly?”
“Yes, you understand correctly. Originally, they were planning to proceed unilaterally after obtaining the city’s consent— but as I just said, the city’s powerholders lent their strength in the process. We’ve been given a chance, so to speak?”
“Oh… then isn’t that a rather optimistic situation?”
“It is in the sense that luck came our way without us doing anything. However, the outlook isn’t that good.”
Lumiere looked at Didoa, and she nodded, continuing the story.
“The Yellow Tower has acted much faster than we anticipated.”
“In what way?”
“Simply put, they’ve almost finished preparing to start the dungeon investigation.”
“They can whisper the magic spell ‘We’ll depart as soon as you arrive’ to the White Iron Guild. Then, conversely, how long will it take us to prepare from now?”
“It depends on the type and size of the dungeon, but roughly… wouldn’t we need a few months?”
“A few months!?”
Lisir’s eyes widened.
“Does it usually take that long?”
“This is also a special case. Because of the expected size and characteristics of the dungeon, a much more difficult selection is required. Above all— the Yellow Tower has already secured most of the manpower in the city.”
Lisir realized anew the power of information.
When a group the size of the Yellow Tower obtains information first and takes the initiative, there’s nothing the receiving party can do.
“Then— we have to say ‘If you give us a few months!’ when we persuade the White Iron Guild.”
“It seems that way.”
“Will they wait for a few months?”
“…”
An uncomfortable silence fell over the room.
Right now.
The White Iron Guild had also mobilized numerous people for the dungeon investigation.
The longer the waiting period, the longer the period they waste manpower.
For example, they had no reason to consider the Grey Tower’s circumstances—
The Grey Tower would need a trump card to persuade them.
“Is there any good idea?”
At that moment.
Someone knocked on the office door.
They were the Masters of the Tower who had entrusted the task of organizing the dungeon investigation team.
“First, let’s hear their report.”
✦✦✦
Lisir was overwhelmed by confusion as he listened to their reports from the side.
“Uh. Uh… Uh…!!! Uwaak!!! If it weren’t for that dog— Ah, I’m sorry. I was so excited that I showed a shameful sight…”
The first report.
“Rocard!!! That damned fellow, in front of people, our Tower—”
The second report.
“I’m sorry, Deputy Tower Master. Because of that nightmarish fellow, I lost my composure and—”
The third report.
And, in all subsequent reports, Rocard’s name was mentioned without fail.
They explained how they happened to get involved with Rocard in the process of recruiting manpower—
And how they suffered from Rocard’s sinister and arrogant personality.
‘That Rocard?’
Lisir wondered if he and they had met the same person.
He suppressed his urge to defend Rocard and said.
“Then, what should we do?”
With the Yellow Tower taking the lead, all options were blocked.
In that desperate situation, Lisir asked for their opinions.
Lumiere, having organized the situation, said with a sigh.
“For now… we should talk to them and look for a way. Without having high expectations.”
✦✦✦
The next day.
Lisir and the other members of the Grey Tower headed to the meeting place where the Yellow Tower and the White Iron Adventurer’s Guild were waiting.
“…Rocard. What’s going on? There are still 30 minutes left until the appointed time.”
When they arrived.
The meeting was already in full swing, led by the Yellow Tower.
The central figure in that situation.
Golden Divinity Rocard gave them his characteristic sinister smile.
“Ah! You’ve come just in time! I was just needing the Grey Tower’s opinion!”
The Masters forgot their displeasure and felt anxiety.
Because the fellow showing such friendliness was a sign of deception.
“Now, it has been concluded that an expert with knowledge of Greater Black Magic is needed regarding the dungeon’s characteristics. Our Tower estimates that it will take a week to find the right person. A whole week!!! So we humbly request the Grey Tower. Would you please solve this problem on our behalf?”
As expected!
The Masters gnashed their teeth inwardly.
An individual with the difficult ability of Greater Black Magic knowledge, and the trust to be reliably included in the dungeon investigation.
It would take at least half a month to search for such a person.
In and out of the city!
The reason for calling the Yellow Tower incompetent, even though it would take them a week?
It’s simple.
They had already finished their preparations, and it was to shame the Grey Tower, which had made no preparations.
“…”
The Grey Masters trembled with powerlessness.
As Rocard watched the Grey Masters, he was secretly pleased.
“Oh, is that so!? Then let’s do that!”
Lisir readily accepted Rocard’s proposal（?）.
‘Hmm, he seems like a good person no matter how you look at him?
Honey dripped from Lisir’s eyes as he looked at Rocard.
People looked at Lisir with wonder.
“…”
Even Rocard.
✦✦✦
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